Car-coupling



(No Model.)

G. B. PAINTER.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 440,746. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

ATTORNEY v UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

GEORGE B. PAINTER, OF MIDDLETOWVN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDI/VIN IRVING BELL, OF PORTLAND, CONNECTICUT.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,746, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed February 21, 1890. Serial No. 341,376. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. PAINTER, of the town of Middletown, county of Middlesex, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefullmprovementin Car-Couplings, of

which the following is a specification.

Figure I is a plan view, Fig. II an elevation, and Fig. III a view showing the position of the parts when coupled, but free from strain. Fig. IV shows the use of the unlocking-lever when applied.

Like letters indicate similar parts in the drawings.

A A is a cylinderin shape with a hole bored I5 through its center, and fits into an ordinary draw-head G G with a link-pin.

B B is the stem which connects A A with the coupling-jaws, and is made of sufficient width that the sides will act as stops against the sides of the draw-head to prevent too great lateral swing on the pivot-pin Q. The coupling-jaw consists of the coupling-hook C C and the arm D D, the hook and arm forming a guide for the entrance of the opposite engaginghook.

The operation of the parts is as follows: Each half-coupler being properly fastened to its draw-head by the coupling-pin, the cars are allowed to come together without inter- 0 ference. The sides of the stem B B act as stops against the sides of the draw-head and prevent the lateral swinging of the hook 0 beyond the angle of the opposite jaw. As each hook enters its opposite jaw itis guided 3 5 by the arm D D into the head of the jaw until the notches of the hooks pass each other, and thereby swings the couplers on the pivot-pins Q Q, so that the hooks will engage, and the operation is at an end. hen the cars begin to pull apart, the notches of the hooks engage each other firmly. The space between the point P of the hook and the arm D is made wide enough to admit the opposite hook, but too narrow to allow of its escape when in 5 use, and the coaction of the parts is such that the width of the space is easily adjusted so as to absolutely prevent an accidental uncoupling. A lateral jar will swing the whole coupler on its pivot-pins Q Q, and will not dislodge the notches of the hooks, and any sudden slacking will result in driving the points of the hooks into the heads of the opposite jaws and thus hold the coupler in proper place till the pull begins again.

In Figs. II and III the drawings show the hook and arm made of greater height than seems necessary. This is purposely so, and they are so constructed that the same couplers may be applied to different heights of draw-head, as often occurs in freight-cars, and without alteration ordisarrangement eitherin the coupler orin thedraw-head. The enga ing-faces of the hooks may be laterally notched to prevent vertical slipping when so applied to different heights. The uncoupling may be done in two ways, either by using a lever 0, Fig. IV, to force the notches apart and allow them to slip by, or, preferably, the pin Q may be pulled out, as in the ordinary link coupling, allowing the half-coupling so released when free from the draw-head to fall out of the other half-coupler. Each halfcoupler may be fastened to its car by a chain to prevent its being lost, in which case it is evident that the chain must be long enough 7'; to allow the coupler to come free from the draw-head and slip out. It is evident that 'the unlocking-lever may be dispensed with, as shown in Figs. LII, and III, and each halfcoupler made complete at a single casting.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent T 1. As an article of manufacture, the coupling device capable of being made complete at a single casting, consisting of a head, a stem, a coupling-hook, and guiding and looking arm,-substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a draw-head and link-pin, the coupling device consisting of a head A, stem B, coupling-hook C, and guid- 9c ing and locking arm D, substantially as shown and described.

In combination with a draw-head and link-pin, the head A, constructed to enter the draw-head and be there fastened by the pin of the stem B, constructed so as to prevent too great lateral swing of the coupler on its pivot-pin Q, the coupling-hook C, and rigid guiding and locking arm D, substantially as shown and described.

4. In combination with a draw-head and link-pin, the head A, stem B, coupling-hook IOO C, and rigid guiding andlocking arrn D, said O, guiding and locking arm D, and unlockhook and arm being made of sufficient vertical ing-lever O, substantially as shown and delength 110 be applicable to diiferent heights scribed.

0f draw-head without alteration, substan- GEO. B. PAINTER. 5 tially as shown and described. Witnesses: 5. In combination with a draw-head and A. S. POLLARD,

link-pin, the head A, stem 13, coupling-hook F. G. HUBBARD. 

